20 Best Things to Do in Cary, NC: Parks, Food and Lanterns

People often know Cary as the suburb next to Raleigh, but it has become a destination in its own right. A big new park has given downtown a heart, the bakeries and bagel shops have a cult following, and on winter nights an amphitheater fills with enormous glowing lanterns. Add miles of greenway and a lakeside concert venue, and it’s a surprisingly satisfying place to spend a weekend.

The short answer: the best things to do in Cary, NC are exploring Downtown Cary Park, eating along Chatham Street, seeing a show at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, walking Bond Park and Hemlock Bluffs, riding the Black Creek Greenway, and seeing the Chinese Lantern Festival in season.

Cary works especially well for families and for anyone who prefers a slower pace than a big city. If your trip falls between November and early January, jump to #4 first, because tickets for that one are worth sorting out early.

1. Spend a Day at Downtown Cary Park

Opened in November 2023 after more than 20 years of planning, Downtown Cary Park covers about seven acres right in town. Its features include a Skywalk, a splash pad, play structures, public art, an event venue and some 72,000 plants. It’s become the town’s living room, so check the calendar for what’s on.

2. Bring the Dog to the Barkyard

The park’s dog area sits beside The Bark Bar, where you can pick up a beer, wine or snacks while your dog runs around. Cary’s dog parks require a membership or day pass to enter, so sort that out first. It’s the best people-watching in town, too.

3. See a Show at Koka Booth Amphitheatre

Set beside a lake at 8003 Regency Parkway, Koka Booth Amphitheatre hosts music acts, food festivals and comedy, as well as North Carolina Symphony performances. Bring a blanket and arrive early to find a good spot on the lawn. Check whether your event allows you to bring your own food, because a picnic is half the fun.

4. See the Chinese Lantern Festival

This is Cary’s most spectacular event. The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival fills Koka Booth Amphitheatre with giant illuminated displays in the cooler months. Last season ran from November 15 to January 11, and the town has extended the festival through 2034. Check this year’s dates and buy tickets online, since it’s popular on weekends. Dress warmly, because you’ll be outside.

5. Eat Your Way Along Chatham Street

Downtown Cary has become a real food destination. Start at La Farm Bakery, 220 West Chatham Street, known for its white chocolate baguette. Big Dom’s at 203 East Chatham boils hand-rolled bagels in brown sugar water, and Pizzeria Faulisi at 215 East Chatham does wood-fired Neapolitan pies. Come hungry and pace yourself.

6. Try the Local Breweries

For a laid-back evening, Bond Brothers Beer Company at 202 East Cedar Street is friendly to both dogs and kids, with a calendar of food trucks. Fortnight Brewing at 1006 SW Maynard Road specializes in cask ales, which you don’t see every day. Both make a good end to a walk around downtown.

7. Paddle at Bond Park

Fred G. Bond Metro Park at 801 High House Road is the town’s big outdoor space, at about 310 acres, with a lake, boat rentals, a two-mile trail, baseball fields, a playground and a ropes challenge course. It also has a Sertoma Amphitheatre for concerts and movie nights in season. You could easily spend a whole day here with kids.

8. Walk Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve

At 2616 Kildaire Farm Road, Hemlock Bluffs is the kind of place you wouldn’t expect in a suburb. Its 140 acres include nature trails, the Stevens Nature Center and a children’s outdoor play area, and it’s known for its stands of eastern hemlocks, a tree more usually found in the mountains. It’s a quiet, shady walk on a warm day.

9. Ride the Black Creek Greenway

The Black Creek Greenway runs for about 7.1 miles from Bond Park to Lake Crabtree County Park, and it’s part of the East Coast Greenway. It’s a great way to link two parks on a bike. At its northern end, it connects to the Reedy Creek Trail for longer rides toward Raleigh.

10. Go Out on Lake Crabtree

Just north in Morrisville, Lake Crabtree County Park sits on a 520-acre reservoir with a 10-mile dirt trail loop, mountain biking and paddling. Planes from the nearby airport pass overhead, which kids tend to enjoy.

Paddleboats are available to rent in season, and the lakeside path is a good choice if you just want an easy stroll.

11. Explore Umstead State Park

Between Cary and Raleigh, William B. Umstead State Park feels surprisingly wild given the neighbors. The Reedy Creek access is the closest entrance to Cary, and the Company Mill Trail is a local favorite. With about 22 miles of hiking trails listed, you can go as short or as far as you like.

12. Pick Your Own at Phillips Farm

At 6720 Good Hope Church Road, Phillips Farm has strawberry picking in spring and summer and a corn maze and pumpkin patch in the fall. The farm is over a century old, and it’s a very good reason to get the kids away from their screens. Check for current picking conditions before you go.

13. Shop and Dine at Fenton

Opened in 2022, Fenton is a modern outdoor district of shops, restaurants and bars. It hosts live music in the summer and Skate the Square, a seasonal ice rink, in the winter, which last season ran from early November to early February. It’s polished rather than quirky, but it’s a pleasant way to spend an evening.

14. Visit the Page-Walker Arts and History Center

Cary’s history began with a railroad hotel, and this restored 1868 building was it. Today, the Page-Walker Arts and History Center has local history exhibits and art, along with pretty grounds. It doesn’t take long to see, but it does give you a sense of how the town started. Check hours first, as they can be limited.

15. Catch a Film at The Cary Theater

Downtown’s restored little cinema is run by the Town of Cary and shows independent and classic films, as well as live events. It’s the opposite of a multiplex, which is precisely the point. Look at the schedule before you go, then walk to dinner afterward.

16. Watch Soccer at WakeMed Soccer Park

Cary takes its soccer seriously. First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park is home to the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League and to North Carolina FC, and it has hosted major college and international matches. Check the schedule, because a live match here is a good, affordable night out.

17. Catch a Game at the USA Baseball Complex

Cary is also home to the USA Baseball National Training Complex, where national teams train and major tournaments take place. If there’s a game on during your trip, it’s a chance to catch future stars up close. Check the schedule, as events are concentrated in the warmer months.

18. Watch the Pros at Cary Tennis Park

The Cary Tennis Park has hosted professional and college tournaments, and it’s also open for public play. Whether you want to play or to watch, it’s a well-kept facility. Look for tournament dates in advance, as this is one of the better free or cheap ways to see good tennis.

19. Browse Mr. Mike’s Used Books

For a rainy-hour pick, Mr. Mike’s Used Books, listed at 6440 Tryon Road, has a good reputation for quality used titles. Call 919-463-0228 before making a special trip. There’s something to be said for an hour spent somewhere with no agenda, and you’ll probably leave with something you didn’t know you wanted.

20. Join the Pumpkin Flotilla

If you’re around in October, the Cary Pumpkin Flotilla at Bond Park is about as charming as small-town events get, with glowing pumpkins paraded across the lake. Locals drop off their carved pumpkins at the Bond Park Boathouse beforehand, on October 22 in 2026, so check the town’s page for next year’s dates.

Best Free Things to Do in Cary

Most of Cary’s outdoor life is free. Downtown Cary Park, Bond Park, Hemlock Bluffs, the Black Creek Greenway and the Lake Crabtree trail cost nothing, although rentals and dog park passes do. Umstead State Park is free, too. Add the public art around downtown and a pastry from La Farm, and you’ve got a cheap and pleasant day.

When to Visit Cary and How Long to Stay

Spring and fall are ideal for the parks and greenways, and they also bring outdoor shows at Koka Booth. Winter has the lantern festival and the rink at Fenton. Summers are hot, so plan outdoor activities for early in the day.

A weekend is plenty for Cary itself. Since Raleigh and its museums are just minutes away, it’s easy to combine the two in a three- or four-day trip.

Where to next? Try our guides to Hickory in the foothills and Beaufort on the coast. You can also browse our North Carolina guides or all our travel guides on Decidel.

How we checked this guide: hours, fees and rules were checked against official and published sources in November 2026. Some details come from travel guides and can change, so confirm with the venue before you go.